Winter Festival, Trails Day offer ways to have fun in RMNP and Estes Park

By Jeannie Lancaster For the Reporter-Herald

Posted:
01/13/2013 09:07:06 PM MST

Jennifer Bertino of Arvada photographs her daughter, Alicia, on the slide of the Candy Land ice sculpture at last year's Estes Park Winter Festival. The sculpture was protected from the weekend sun by a tent, which kept visitors slipping and sliding all weekend long.
(Walt Hester)

It's January. Christmas is past. Summer's a long way off, and you're looking for something to chase away those ho-hum blahs. Grab a warm coat and gloves and head to the fourth annual Estes Park Winter Festival Friday through Monday.

The festival will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday with a Ceilidh Irish barn dance with live music at the fairgrounds at Stanley Park. This is a dance for everyone. Novices can learn quickly as a caller helps them through the steps. Admission, hot cocoa and s'mores are free.

For those who enjoy the beauty of a winter night's sky, stargazing at the Estes Park Memorial Observatory will be offered free from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. there will be interactive ice sculptures and activities for all ages including pony and carriage rides, a Snowzilla toboggan run and a scavenger hunt, with valuable prizes. Clues for the scavenger hunt can be picked up at the Estes Park Visitors Center or the festival entrance. The hunt will take participants all over town.

The festival will feature the annual chili cook-off along with something new this year -- a mac 'n' cheese showdown and wine/beer tasting. All will be held in the indoor heated pavilion at the fairgrounds. Many artisans will be selling jewelry, art and more.

"It's really an exciting event that grows every year," said Brooke Burnham, director of public relations, communications and social media for Visit Estes Park. "It's great to come back year after year because there's always something different."

But the fun doesn't stop here. The natural beauty of nature can be experienced firsthand at the 17th annual Winter Trails Day, which is held in conjunction with the Winter Festival on Saturday. Winter Trails Day will be held at the park-n-ride lot off Bear Lake Road at Glacier Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Participants can try snowshoeing and attend free clinics, which will provide information on basic winter activity, safety, nutrition, hydration and how to dress for winter hiking and camping. Snowshoes will be available for all ages. All activities are free, but Rocky Mountain entrance fees apply.

On Monday, the final day of the festival, a downtown block party will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. across from Bond Park at the ice skating rink. Pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, balloon artists and free ice skating will be available. Cost varies by activity.

In addition, Rocky Mountain National Park will waive its entrance fees on Monday during its "fee free day" providing complimentary access to the park.

All Friday and Saturday Winter Festival activities are included in the festival entrance fee, with the exception of the pony rides and the beer and wine tasting. There's a lot going on, and attendees can visit estesparkwinterfestival.com for details.